GOP-led Senate needs JD Vance to confirm Pete Hegseth as Defense secretary
The Senate, with the help of Vice President J.D. Vance narrowly confirmed former Fox News weekend co-host Pete Hegseth to serve as President Donald Trump's secretary of Defense.
The overall vote count Friday night was 51-50, with three Republican Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Mitch McConnell (R-KY) all breaking rank and voting no, forcing Vance to break the tie — just the second time in modern history.
"I thought I was done voting in the senate," Vance, a former Ohio senator, joked on X just before casting the tie-breaking vote.
Collins and Murkowski had said they would not support Hegseth for the role.
Hegseth was a hot button for the Trump administration, as he faced serious questions about both his qualifications to run the Pentagon and allegations that he committed sexual assault and had a serious drinking problem.
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This vote came as Trump's other controversial nominees for key positions will be facing Senate confirmation hearings, including former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard to serve as the Director of National Intelligence, MAGA loyalist and "Deep State" conspiracy theorist Kash Patel to serve as Director of the FBI, and anti-vaccine activists Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services.
CNN reporter Manu Raju described the vote as being on a "knife's edge" with lawmakers closely monitoring Sens. McConnell and Thom Tillis (R-NC). While McConnell voted no, Tillis voted yes.
Tillis tweeted out his support for Hegseth during the vote.
"From the beginning, I have been clear about my position: if President Trump’s nominees were reported favorably out of the relevant committees, I would support their confirmation on the Senate floor absent new material information about their qualifications," he said.
Tillis added that he conducted his "own due diligence, including asking tough questions," and "appreciated his candor and openness in answering them."
"Pete has a unique perspective as a veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and is unquestionably passionate about modernizing our military and supporting the brave patriots like himself who serve our nation. I will support his confirmation and look forward to working with him to rebuild our military and advance President Trump’s peace through strength agenda."